Musical whirling toy



May 5, 1964 R. L. FOX 7 3,131,506

MUSICAL WHIRLING TOY Filed March 31, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y- BY/M 55 W ATTORNEY y 5, 1964 R. L. FOX 3,131,506

MUSICAL WHIRLING TOY Filed March 51, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 8 l Robert L.Z' 0

United States Patent 3,131,506 MUSICAL WHIRLING TOY Robert L. Fox, 512 Hilltop Terrace, Alexandria, Va. Filed Mar. 31, 1961, Ser. No. 99,831 4 Claims. (Cl. 46-63) This invention relates to toys and more specifically to a toy of the whirling type.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved type of whirling toy in which musical notes or other sounds are produced as the toy is rotated in one direction or the other.

Another object of my invention is to provide a whirling toy which is adapted to run along the length of a cord in another form of its application.

Another important object of my invention is the provision of a whirling toy which can be quickly modified for operation in separate and distinct modes of play, by the users thereof.

Another further important object of my invention is the provision of a-toy which can be easily manipulated, which is simple in operation and which will provide pleasure to users of various age groups.

My invention has been made with the foregoing considerations in mind and have other important objectives in its creation and use.

An important feature of novelty in the present invention is the utilization of a whirling toy which by its revolving motion in either direction, in one of its uses, scoops air through funnel shaped members about its periphery and directs the course of such air through a note or sound producing device contained therein.

Another important feature of novelty in the present invention is the utilization of a simple and easily applied weight attachment on each side of the whirling toy to permit the toy to ride as a wheel over a rope or other type line in an upright position.

Other features and advantages not specifically enumerated will become apparent after a consideration of the following descriptions and the appended claims.

In the drawings, which represent certain preferred embodiments:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of my invention as it is intended to be used as a whirling toy;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the whirling toy of my invention;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the whirling toy taken on line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the air funnel used in my invention taken on line 4-4 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of the whirling toy with the weight attachment applied;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of the whirling toy taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a top view of the whirling toy positioned to run over a line; and

FIGURE 8 is an end view of the whirling toy as it is used to rotate about in axis.

Reference is again made to FIGURE 1 wherein a child C is shown operating a cut-out wheel 10 by means of two runs of a cord or rope R. The cord is shown to be attached to a stake S, on one end of its double run and to a handle H at the other and of the double runs. The child is shown to be holding the handle H in the use of the whirling toy.

The cord R is passed through opposite holes 11 bored through a central hub 12 of the wheel Iii. The hub 12 is provided with radially extending extending spoke-like arms 13 which are integrally formed with an outer circular member 14 of the wheel.

Mounted on diametrically opposite arms 13 on one ice 7 side of the wheel are funnels 15, 15. Additional funnels 15, 15 are provided on the other side of the wheel on adjacent arms 13 diametrically opposite each other.

It is to be noted at this point, however, that the funnels could all be arranged on one side of the wheel or in any other desired arrangement thereon.

Each of the funnels 15 is provided at its front with an open end scoop 16, as shown in FIGURE 4, and is narrowed toward the rear to connect with a suitable opening 17 extending through the outer end of each arm 13. Each opening 17 is located adjacent the outer circular member of the wheel.

On the face of each arm 13, opposite the face on which the funnel 15 is provided, a musical note or other air activated vibrant member 18 is mounted in any well known manner so as to make a musical note or other sound as air is guided therethrough from the funnel; obviously member 18 could also be a whistle.

As is thus apparent, from an understanding of my invention; when the wheel is rotated about its axis by means of a pulling and contraction of the lines on which it is mounted, air will be scooped into the funnel 15 and by rotation of the wheel forced through the opening 17. The air passing through the opening 17 will be directed by the vibrant member or note 18 to cause it to activate and produce the sound for which it is designed.

Centrally journalled in the hub 12 of the wheel 10 is a shaft 20 extended therethrough as is more clearly shown in FIGURES 3 and 6. Bores 21 are formed on the outer ends of the shaft 20.

When it is desired to utilize the whirling toy as a revolving wheel, the balance members 22, 22 are mounted on opposite ends of shaft 20, as is clearly seen in FIG- URE 6. Pins 24 inserted through openings in sleeve 26 mating with the adjacent bore 21 connecting the balance members to the wheel.

Each balance member 22 has an arm 27, of rod-like formation, depending from its sleeve 26. The arm 27 is outwardly bent at 28 intermediate its ends to provide a parallel outwardly spaced lower portion 30. The outer end of the lower portion 30 is threaded as at 32 to receive a retaining nut 34 for holding a weighted sleeve 36 on the lower portion of the arm 26.

The circular member 14 is provided with an outer groove 40 for a purpose now to be described.

As shown in FIGURE 7, the line or rope R is extended as a single run. The wheel with the balance members attached to the shaft is placed on one end of the line on the groove 40 and the operator by raising or lowering his end of the line with respect to the other end, whether it be fixed by attachment to stake S, or whether it be operated by another person, will then cause the wheel to roll away from or back to him as he desires. The balances attached to the wheel will be effective to hold the wheel on the line for movement therealong.

Numerous modifications and variations of the present invention will occur to those skilled in the art after a careful study of the invention Which I have disclosed. For example, it is believed obvious that my device can be utilized as a toy by one or two persons or children as desired with the same results and pleasure of operation. It is also believed obvious that additional arms could be formed between the central hub and the outer circular member to provide more funnels and more sound producing members. Also it is believed obvious that the funnels could be arranged on either face of the wheel in any staggered position without departing from the intent and scope of this invention. All such modifications and variations which come within the spirit and scope of the present invention are intended to be included herein as fully and completely as if they had been specifically illus trated, described and claimed herein.

The exact construction and relative positioning of the various parts of this invention is by way of example and may be modified substantially Within the scope and spirit of my invention without departing therefrom.

Having thus described and disclosed my invention, What is claimed as new is:

1. A whirling toy, comprising a cut-out wheel, said wheel including a hub centrally formed in said wheel, radially extending arms extending outwardly from said hub, and a circular member provided with an outwardly facing groove connecting the outer portions of the radial arms, funnel-shaped air scoops mounted on the opposite faces of adjacent radial arms, a vibrant member mounted on each radial arm in cooperation with its associated funnel member, diametrically opposed openings, formed in said hub, said outwardly facing groove adapted to ride on and over a line associated therewith.

2. A whirling toy, comprising a cut-out wheel, said wheel including a hub centrally formed in said wheel, radially extending arms extending outwardly from said hub, and a circular member formed with an outwardly facing groove connecting the outer ends of the radial arms, funnel-shaped air scoops mounted on the opposite faces of adjacent radial arms and a vibrant member mounted on each radial arm in communication with the associated funnel member, diametrically opposed openings formed in said hub and said outwardly facing groove adapted to ride on and over a line associated therewith.

3. A whirling toy, comprising a cut-out wheel, said wheel including a hub provided with a shaft journalled therein centrally formed in said wheel, radially extending arms extending outwardly from said hub, and a circular member formed with an outwardly facing groove connecting the outer ends of the radial arms, funnelshaped air scoops mounted on the opposite faces of adjacent radial arms and a vibrant member mounted on each radial arm in communication with the associated funnel member, diametrically opposed openings formed in said hub and said outwardly facing groove adapted to ride on and over a line associated therewith.

4. A whirling toy, comprising a cut-out wheel, said wheel including a hub provided with a shaft journalled therein centrally formed in said wheel, balance members mounted on the outer ends of said shMt, radially extending arms extending outwardly from said hub, and a circular member formed with an outwardly facing groove connecting the outer ends of the radial arms, funnelshaped air scoops mounted on the opposite faces of adjacent radial arms and a vibrant member mounted on each radial arm in communication with the associated funnel member, diametrically opposed openings formed in said hub and said outwardly facing groove adapted to ride on and over a line associated therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 197,479 Lauth Nov. 27, 1877 757,158 Turrill Apr. 12, 1904 780,571 Moore Jan. 24, 1905 1,374,296 Green Apr. 12, 1921 2,489,206 Tomnie Nov. 22, 1949 2,836,009 Wang May 27, 1958 2,968,889 Poliakoflf Jan. 24, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 5,777 Great Britain Mar. 19, 1895 1,069,907 France Aug. 3, 1955 (Addition to 64,990) 

1. A WHIRLING TOY, COMPRISING A CUT-OUT WHEEL, SAID WHEEL INCLUDING A HUB CENTRALLY FORMED IN SAID WHEEL, RADIALLY EXTENDING ARMS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID HUB, AND A CIRCULAR MEMBER PROVIDED WITH AN OUTWARDLY FACING GROOVE CONNECTING THE OUTER PORTIONS OF THE RADIAL ARMS, FUNNEL-SHAPED AIR SCOOPS MOUNTED ON THE OPPOSITE FACES OF ADJACENT RADIAL ARMS, A VIBRANT MEMBER MOUNTED ON EACH RADIAL ARM IN COOPERATION WITH ITS ASSOCIATED FUNNEL MEMBER, DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED OPENINGS, FORMED 